Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill has no fresh injury worries ahead of the clash.

Striker John Carew suffered no ill-effects after returning from another knee injury in the FA Cup clash with Manchester United last weekend.

Midfielder Patrik Berger is back in training after recovering from a hamstring injury but it is too soon for him to come under consideration to face the Royals.

Isaiah Osbourne has recovered from a slight thigh problem but O'Neill is willing to allow him to go out on loan with Leicester interested in signing the midfielder.

Reading will give a late fitness test to defender Michael Duberry (knee) ahead of Saturday's trip to Aston Villa.

Utility man Brynjar Gunnarsson is back from a ban and 19-year-old defender Alex Pearce stands by for his Barclays Premier League debut.

Ibrahima Sonko, Andre Bikey and Emerse Fae are all away on African Nations Cup duty and wingers John Oster (ankle) and Glen Little (heel) remain on the sidelines.